“We are making progress,” Jones said.  “While the proposals are still in the drafting phase, this process marks the first significant policy change since the program was first announced in December 1997. Even though I still have a number of serious concerns about the program, these proposals could help alleviate some of the questions that continue to plague the mandatory anthrax vaccine program.  I cannot help but feel encouraged by this news.”
 
 In an Oct. 4, 1999 letter to Rudy deLeon, the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Congressman Jones asked DOD to consider eliminating the anthrax vaccine requirement for personnel who were leaving the service. 

 “I do not believe that it is in the best interest of the men and women of the military to begin a shot regimen for individuals who, due to their impending separation from the military, will not receive the entire FDA required series and are unlikely to face the Pentagon’s described anthrax threat,” Jones wrote.

 “To address this concern, I am asking for your assistance in eliminating the anthrax vaccination requirement for individuals with less than six months remaining prior to separation.  I believe this would be a prudent policy to address some of the concerns of the Department, the men and women in the military, and Members of Congress,” he wrote.

 In a Jan. 24, 2000 response, Major General Randall L. West, the DOD’s Special Advisor for Anthrax and Bio-Defense Affairs indicated that the Department is currently examining policies concerning such exemptions.

 Congressman Jones introduced H.R. 2543 last summer, which would make the Department of Defense’s anthrax vaccine program voluntary for all members of the Armed Services.